Filling in Some Free Time!!
Rugby Union
I've played rugby for as long as I can remember. As a true blue Canberra boy and having played with or against a number of the local Super 12 side over the course of my ignanimous career I now find myself jumping up and down making myself hoarse each time the ACT Brumbies play in the Super 12. You can check out their site by clicking on the icon. The site needs some work, but they've got the right idea.
Rockclimbing
Rockclimbing is one of my passions. Combining strength, stamina and willpower (not to mention lots of adrenalin) I only started climbing rock faces when I was at University in Canberra. I've done some great climbs in the Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran, New South Wales, and a terrifying day of free climbing (without rope or harness) in the Dolomites Mountains in Italy/Austria. But I am still yet to so some really big climbs. If anyone is interested let me know.
Bridge
It was back at University in Canberra that I started playing bridge with a great friend of mine, Brendan Quach, his cousin Paul, and friends Lisa Havas and Chris Danta. All of the other's parents are very keen and experienced bridge players and provided us with lots of support and coaching. Head coach was Liz Havas, Australian Women's Teams Champion and one time Australian Rep. A great way to start and after a couple of years of serious bridge I feel I can hold my own in almost any company. I'm currently a member of the Dubbo Bridge Club and play every Thursday.
You might like to try a game of Bridge on-line with/against players from all over the world and of standards from beginner to expert. You might find me at Yahoo Games (Bridge) playing in the Intermediate lounge as pepe1_au.
The governing body of bridge in Australia is the Australian Bridge Federation.
Smimming
Swimming remains a beautiful way to spend some time. Healthy, refreshing and blissfully silent. I find swimming very... zen, especially in rivers, lakes or the sea. It's a great way to think. I try to swim everyday when I can. Unless you want to look at personal profiles of some Aussie swimmers you'll have to take my word for it that there are (at the date of publication) no web pages of interest to swimmers.
Taekwondo
I started taekwondo about 5 years ago together with a few friends. It got pretty serious and I spent a whole winter getting up at 4:30am to wipe ice from the windscreen and do 2 and a 1/2 hours of training towards the National Championships. Our conservative Korean coach cancelled our team entry because he thought we weren't committed enough. At least now I have no concerns about walking down dark alleys virtually anywhere (New York and Bankok excepted).
In-line Skating
Otherwise known as rollerblading, this sport is easy, fun, versatile and a great way to travel. I'm the only person I know who travelled through Europe stopping at each town or city to don my skates and do a quick tourist lap. Lot's of fun. Rollerhockey and Rollersoccer, together with speed skating and free/ramp skating, are now well recognised sports. All relevant info can be checked out at skating.com, without a doubt the most in depth skating site around.
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